Method of Retrofitting a Pneumatic On-Demand Seed Delivery System and an Improved Pneumatic On-Demand Seed Delivery System

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic on-demand seed delivery system wherein seed from the auxiliary hopper enters the seed meter through an opening beginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter. And a retrofit kit for existing on-demand seed delivery systems, and method of retrofitting such existing pneumatic on-demand seed delivery systems, so as to provide an auxiliary hopper that communicates seed to the seed meter through an opening beginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter.

BACKGROUND

There is an increased awareness among the agricultural community as tothe economic importance of planting accuracy. This increased awarenessand the desire to improve seed meter accuracy is due in part to therecent increase in the price of corn. For example, with corn prices near$4 per bushel, improving the seed singulation accuracy of a seed meterby a single percentage point can translate into eight dollars ($8.00)more per acre. Accordingly, there is a significant need to provide aseed meter that will consistently produce seed singulation accuracies of98% or above.

With respect to vacuum type seed meters, a number of factors can affectseed singulation accuracies. One such factor is the treatment applied tothe seeds. The seed corn industry is applying new formulations andheavier treatments to the seed to protect the seed from new pests andother insects and disease, but which are also more environmentallyfriendly. These new treatments can make the seed surface rough, therebyaffecting entrainment over the apertures of vacuum disks. Additionally,some of these new treatments can become sticky, requiring moreaggressive agitation of the seeds within the seed pool of the meters inorder to keep the seeds from sticking together.

One type of vacuum meter that has experienced commercial success inrecent years is the John Deere Pro-Series™ Meter found on Deere'scentral-fill or bulk-fill planters such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,581,533 and 6,935,255 both of which are incorporated herein byreference. While the Pro-Series™ Meter may serve its intended purposecertain factors can effect its performance.

For example, as previously identified, certain heavily coated seedtreatments may cause the seed within the seed pool to stick togetherreducing the flowability of the seed. Thus, unless the seed isaggressively agitated by the seed disk as it rotates through the seedpool, the reduced flowability may result in poor loading of the seedonto the apertures of the seed disk, which translate into seek skips inthe furrow. Deere's standard seed disks for the Pro-Series™ Meter do notprovide very aggressive agitation. As a result, under some conditionswhen using Deere's standard disks, the performance or accuracy of theseed meter can be less than desirable.

In order to overcome this problem, farmers have attempted to replaceDeere's standard seed disks with after-market disks that have larger ordeeper ribs or fins to provide more aggressive agitation of the seeds.While these deeper ribs provide more aggressive agitation to keep theseed pool fluid, it has been found that some of these after-market diskscan increase the likelihood for the seed meter to overfill which canlead to meter performance problems or failures.

It has been determined that the potential for overfilling of thePro-Series™ Meter when using seed disks designed to provide greater seedpool agitation, is partially attributed to the size and position of theopening within the seed meter housing through which the seed enters theseed reservoir from the auxiliary hopper. As will be explained in moredetail later, when using larger or deeper ribs, more seeds are scoopedup by the larger ribs which, due to the size and position of theopening, the void created by the seeds scooped up by the larger ribs isreplenished with new seeds entering from the auxiliary hopper. Thus, insuch circumstances, more seeds continually enter the seed reservoir thanare actually being discharged out of the seed meter. As the seed diskrotates, the extra seeds carried by the larger ribs are returned to theseed pool which further adds to the seed pool that has already beenreplenished. Accordingly, over time, the meter can overfill.

Deere made an attempt to eliminate the tendency of the Pro-Series™ Meterto overfill by positioning a brush as a sort of lid to hold back orprevent the seed from rising above the seed reservoir. This brush lid isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,533 (see FIG. 4 of '533 patent at referencenumeral 68). While Deere's approach was moderately successful, wheremore aggressive agitation on the disk is needed, the brush lid does notsufficiently prevent over filling. Additionally, the presence of thebrush can have an adverse effect upon meter performance as some seedtypes and sizes of seeds are physically disturbed by the brush while theseeds are being loaded on the seed disk, thereby causing unwanted skips.

Accordingly, there is a need for a cost effective solution that willenable farmers to modify or retrofit their existing Pro-Series Meters toovercome the deficiencies described above while not having to replacethe entire seed meter. Similarly, there is a need for a new design whichcan be adopted by original equipment manufacturers or after-marketsuppliers to overcome the deficiencies associated with the existingPro-Series design with minimal retooling or changes to the seed meterand with minimal changes to the on-demand delivery system structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation view of a conventional central-fillagricultural planter illustrating a conventional product-on-demanddelivery system such as manufactured by Deere & Company.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed perspective view of a portion of thecentral-fill planter of FIG. 1 illustrating a conventional Pro-Series™seed meter and auxiliary hopper.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed perspective view of the conventionalPro-Series™ seed meter and auxiliary hopper of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the interior of the conventionalPro-Series™ seed meter and auxiliary hopper of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the same perspective as FIG. 2illustrating one embodiment of an auxiliary hopper assembly of theretrofit kit of the present invention and/or of the improved on-demandseed delivery system of the present invention wherein the vent isincorporated into the auxiliary hopper.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the retrofit kit and/or improvedon-demand seed delivery system of FIG. 5 showing the reduced openingbeginning rearward of the vertical axis of the seed meter in relation tothe original opening of the Pro-Series™ Meter shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the retrofit kit of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe auxiliary hopper assembly of the retrofit kit of the presentinvention and/or of the improved on-demand seed delivery system of thepresent invention wherein the vent is incorporated into the inlet pipeof the auxiliary hopper.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of theretrofit kit of the present invention and/or of the improved on-demandseed delivery system of the present invention wherein the eSet® offsetseed disk system is being utilized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1illustrates a conventional central-fill planter 10 such as manufacturedby Deere & Company, and which utilizes a Pro-Series™ Meter's asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,581,533 and 6,935,255 previouslyincorporated herein by reference.

The central fill planter 10 includes a main frame 12 having a main toolbar 28 from which a plurality of spaced row units 14 are supported by aparallel linkage 16. The parallel linkage 16 enables the individual rowunits 14 to move vertically independently of one another to conform toterrain or upon encountering an obstacle during planting operations.Each of the individual row units 14 comprises a “mini-hopper” or“auxiliary hopper” 18, the purpose of which will be described later.Additionally, each row unit 14 includes a seed meter 20, a furrow opener22 and a furrow closing assembly 26. The main frame 12 also supports amain or central hopper 36 and an air pump or blower 38. The main hopperholds a bulk supply of seed.

In operation, the blower 38 pneumatically transfers seed from thecentral hopper 36 via product supply hoses 48 to each of the individualauxiliary hoppers 18 as needed, hence this type of central fill systemis referred to as a “product-on-demand” delivery system. The seed meter20 meters seed received from the auxiliary hopper 18. The furrow opener22 forms the planting furrow in the soil surface into which theindividual seeds metered at regularly spaced intervals by the seed meter20 are deposited after being directed downwardly and rearwardly by theseed tube 24. The closing assembly 26 pushes the soil back into thefurrow covering the seed.

The on-demand delivery of seed to the auxiliary hoppers 18 is regulatedor controlled through a venting system. As best illustrated in FIG. 2,each auxiliary hopper 18 includes a vent 50 disposed in a sidewall ofthe auxiliary hopper 18. Within the auxiliary hopper 18 is a downwardlycurving, perforated air separation tube 52. As seed is communicated fromthe main hopper 36 to the auxiliary hopper 18 via the product supplyhose 48, air escapes through the perforations 54 thereby separating theseeds from the air stream. The seeds drop into the bottom of theauxiliary hopper 18 from the bottom of the perforated air separationtube 52 and the air escapes through the vent 50 in the sidewall of theauxiliary hopper 18. As the auxiliary hopper 18 fills with seed, theperforations 54 in the perforated air separation tube 52 get coveredwith seed. As the perforations 54 are covered, the volume of air thatcan escape through the perforations is reduced, thus reducing the airflow through the tube 52, which, in turn, reduces the amount of seedbeing carried to the auxiliary hopper 18 by the product supply hose 48.As the seed within the auxiliary hopper 18 is consumed by passing intothe seed meter 20, the seed level will drop, exposing more of theperforations 54 and allowing more air, and thus more seed, to flow oncemore into the auxiliary hopper 18, thereby maintaining a steady supplyof seed within the auxiliary hopper 18.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the auxiliary hopper 18 is mounted to theback housing member 74 of the seed meter 20. The meter/hopper assembly18/20 is supported at a forward end by a bracket 56 disposed between theupright posts 58 of the row unit 14. A base bracket 55 helps support themeter/hopper assembly 18/20 above the furrow opener 22. A latch 57secures the meter/hopper assembly 18/20 to the frame 59 of the furrowopener 22.

A hex-shaft 60 is supported parallel to the tool bar 28 and is operablydriven by the rotation of the ground wheels (not shown) as the planteris pulled through the field. The rotation of the hex-shaft 60 operablydrives the seed meter 20 by rotating the seed meter drive shaft 62 whichis, in turn, operably connected to the hex-shaft 60 via forward andrearward gearboxes 64, 66 and a flexible shaft 68. The seed meter driveshaft 62 is substantially coaxial with the central axis of the seedmeter 20.

The Pro-Series™ meter 20 comprises a housing 72 which includes a backhousing member 74 and a front housing member 76. Disposed within thehousing is a seed disk (not shown for clarity) such as disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,170,909 to Lundie et al. (the “Lundie '909 Patent”),incorporated herein by reference. The seed disk rotates within thehousing 72 coaxially with the drive shaft 62. As illustrated in theLundie '909 Patent, the seed disk includes a plurality of radiallyspaced apertures near its outer periphery.

In operation, seed is communicated from the auxiliary hopper 18 into theseed reservoir of the seed meter 20 through an opening 80. A negativepressure source (not shown) draws air from the seed meter 20 from theside of the seed disk opposite the seed reservoir, thereby producing apressure differential on opposing sides of the seed disk. This pressuredifferential causes the seeds within the seed reservoir to becomeentrained or “loaded” over the apertures as the disk rotates through theseed reservoir. As the disk rotates past a seal (not shown) disposedwithin the seed meter 20, the source of the vacuum is isolated therebyeliminating the pressure differential causing the seeds to fall from theface of the disk. The falling seed is received within a seed tube 24where it is directed downwardly and rearwardly into the seed furrowcreated by the furrow opener 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the opening 80 through whichthe seed is communicated from the auxiliary hopper 18 into the seedreservoir begins at approximately the 5 o'clock position, orapproximately ¾ inch forwardly of the vertical axis 82 of the seed meter20. The opening extends arcuately rearwardly as viewed in FIG. 4 toapproximately the 8:30 position. As previously described, it has beendetermined that with the opening 80 extending forwardly of the verticalaxis 82 of the seed meter, excess seeds enter the seed reservoir whenthe seed disk rotates through the seed reservoir, particularly if a seeddisk with more aggressive agitation ribs are utilized, which, over time,can result in overfilling of the meter 20.

In order to minimize the chance of overfilling occurring even whenutilizing seed disks with very aggressive agitation, while stillutilizing much of the seed meter structure and the on-demand-deliverystructure of the Pro-Series™ meter, one embodiment of the presentinvention is directed to a cost effective solution in the form of aretrofit kit. Additionally, rather than a retrofit kit, an originalequipment manufacturer and/or an aftermarket supplier could incorporatethe structural and functions features as disclosed herein to overcomethe deficiencies associated with the existing Pro-Series™ meter designwith minimal retooling or changes to the seed meter and with minimalchanges to the existing on-demand delivery system structure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a preferred retrofitkit 100 for a Pro-Series™ meter. FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of theretrofit kit embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspectiveview of the retrofit kit embodiment of FIG. 5. The preferred retrofitkit 100 includes a replacement auxiliary hopper 102 which replaces theexisting auxiliary hopper 18. The replacement auxiliary hopper 102includes appropriate mounting structure 104 that cooperates with theexisting structure of the planter and which preferably utilizes or takesadvantage of the same connection points on the back housing member 74 ofthe seed meter 20 as the auxiliary hopper 18 being replaced. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the mounting structure 104 includes a forwardbracket 106 that cooperates with the bracket 56 on the planter 10 tosupport the forward end of the replacement auxiliary hopper 102. In thisembodiment, a perforated air separation tube 108 and vent 110 preferablysubstantially similar to the perforated air separation tube 52 and vent50 of the original auxiliary hopper 18 are utilized. In comparingposition of the replacement auxiliary hopper illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 tothe position of the original auxiliary hopper being replaced asillustrated FIGS. 3 and 4, it should be apparent that the replacementauxiliary hopper 102 of the retrofit kit 100 is positioned rearward ofthe seed meter drive shaft 62 as opposed to forward of the drive shaft62 as in FIGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, an extension pipe 112 is providedto connect the perforated air separation tube 108 to the product supplyhose 48.

The replacement auxiliary hopper 102 preferably includes an opening 114which, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, preferably begins rearward of thevertical axis 82 of the seed meter 20 (preferably at about the 7 o'clockposition) and extends arcuately rearwardly in toward the horizontal axis83 (preferably to approximately the 8:30 position). As a result, theopening 114 through which seed enters the seed meter 20 is reduced,permitting the seed meter 20 to operate more like the type of meterdisclosed in the Lundie '909 Patent.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a retrofit kit 200 ofthe present invention. In this embodiment the replacement auxiliaryhopper 202 is substantially similar to the previously describedembodiment, in that the replacement auxiliary hopper 202 includesappropriate mounting structure 204 that cooperates with the existingstructure of the planter 10 and which preferably utilizes or takesadvantage of the same connection points on the back housing member 74 ofthe seed meter 20 as the auxiliary hopper 18 intended to be replaced. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the mounting structure 204 includes a forwardbracket 206 that cooperates with the bracket 56 on the planter 10 tosupport the forward end of the replacement auxiliary hopper 202.

Unlike in the previous embodiment, however, an air separation tube 208is incorporated into the extension pipe 212, thereby eliminating theneed for the vent and perforated air separation tube within theauxiliary hopper. The air separation tube 208 includes slots 210 throughwhich air escapes. A vent regulator 211 may be provided for positioningover the slots 210 to increase or decrease the amount of air flowthrough the slots 210. In this embodiment, the auxiliary hopper 202 willmaintain a level of seed at a height approximate the top of the aperture213 in the sidewall of the hopper into which the extension pipe 212 isreceived. A vent cover 216 preferably mounts over the slots 210 in theair separation tube 208. The vent cover 216 preferably includes a firstset of slots 218 through which air can escape to atmosphere and a secondset of slots 220 in communication with the interior of the seed meter 20to ensure adequate air flow through the seed meter for properperformance.

As with the previous embodiment, the replacement auxiliary hopper 202preferably includes an opening 214 which preferably begins rearward ofthe vertical axis 82 of the seed meter 20 (preferably at about the 7o'clock position) and extends arcuately rearwardly toward the horizontalaxis 83 (preferably to approximately the 8:30 position). As a result,the opening 214 through which seed enters the seed meter 20 is reduced,permitting the seed meter 20 to operate more like the type of meterdisclosed in the Lundie '909 Patent.

FIG. 9 illustrates additional components that may be used forretrofitting an existing Pro-Series™ meter by taking advantage of theoffset disk system as disclosed in Applicant's co-pending applicationSer. No. 11/465,164 (Pub. No. US2007/0039529), which is incorporatedherein by reference, the commercial embodiment of which is sold underthe trademark eSet®. Although FIG. 9 illustrates the replacementauxiliary hopper embodiment 202 as just described with respect to FIG.8, it should be appreciated that the replacement auxiliary hopperembodiment 102 as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 may also be utilized with theeSet® system. The back housing member 74 to which the auxiliary hopper202/102 mounts is not shown in FIG. 9. The eSet® system includes theoffset disk 300, a liner 302 which is received within the interior ofthe back housing member 74 and secured thereto by suitable fasteners304. The liner 302 includes an opening 306 which mates with the opening214/114 of the auxiliary hopper 202/102. The eSet® system furtherincludes the singulator 308, brush assemblies 310, 312 and fragmentextractor 314 all as disclosed in the above-referenced '164 application.

The foregoing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skillin the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the contextof a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications tothe preferred embodiment of the apparatus and the general principles andfeatures described herein will be readily apparent to those of skill inthe art. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to theembodiments of the apparatus and methods described above and illustratedin the drawing figures, but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of retrofitting a pneumatic on-demand seed delivery systemin which seeds are pneumatically communicated via a product supply hoseinto an auxiliary hopper and from the auxiliary hopper into a seedreservoir of a seed meter through a seed inlet opening in the seed meterhousing, the seed inlet opening beginning forward of a vertical axis ofthe seed meter and extending arcuately rearwardly toward a horizontalaxis of the seed meter, the method comprising: disconnecting the productsupply hose from the auxiliary hopper; removing the auxiliary hoppersecured to an exterior back side of a housing of the seed meter therebyexposing the seed inlet opening; mounting a replacement auxiliary hopperto said exterior back side of said seed meter housing, said replacementauxiliary hopper having an opening beginning rearward of the verticalaxis of the seed meter and extending arcuately rearwardly toward thehorizontal axis; operatively attaching the product supply hose to thereplacement auxiliary hopper for pneumatically communicating seedsthereto.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary hopper includesa vent by which seed entering said replacement auxiliary hopper isregulated.
 3. The method of claim 1 further including providing an inletpipe to operatively connect the product supply hose to the replacementauxiliary hopper, said inlet pipe having a vent by which seed enteringsaid replacement auxiliary hopper is regulated.
 4. The method of claim 1further comprising: removing an existing seed disk from the seed meterhousing; removing all existing brushes from the seed meter housing;replacing the removed seed disk with an offset seed disk; securing aliner to an interior back side of the seed meter housing, said linerhaving an opening mating with said opening in said replacement auxiliaryhopper, said liner having tabs for receivably securing replacementbrushes that cooperate with said offset seed disk; securing saidreplacement brushes to said liner.
 5. A retrofit kit for a pneumaticon-demand seed delivery system in which seeds are pneumaticallycommunicated via a product supply hose into an auxiliary hopper and fromthe auxiliary hopper into a seed reservoir of a seed meter through aseed inlet opening in the seed meter housing, the seed inlet openingbeginning forward of a vertical axis of the seed meter and extendingarcuately rearwardly toward a horizontal axis of the seed meter, theretrofit kit comprising: a replacement auxiliary hopper sized to mountonto a back side of the seed meter housing and to cooperate therewith,said replacement auxiliary hopper having an opening beginning rearwardof the vertical axis of the seed meter and extending arcuatelyrearwardly toward the horizontal axis.
 6. The retrofit kit of claim 5wherein said replacement auxiliary hopper includes a vent by which seedentering said replacement auxiliary hopper is regulated.
 7. The retrofitkit of claim 5 further comprising an inlet pipe to operatively connectthe product supply hose to the replacement auxiliary hopper, said inletpipe having a vent by which seed entering said replacement auxiliaryhopper is regulated.
 8. The retrofit kit of claim 5 further comprising:an offset disk; a liner sized to be received within an interior backside of the seed meter housing, said liner having an opening mating withsaid opening in said replacement auxiliary hopper; replacement brushesmountable to said liner, said replacement brushes cooperating with saidoffset seed disk.
 9. A pneumatic on-demand seed delivery system for aseed meter, the seed meter operably driven by a flexible shaft, thesystem comprising: an auxiliary hopper disposed to communicate seedsthrough an opening in the seed meter, said opening beginning rearward ofthe vertical axis of the seed meter and extending arcuately rearwardlytoward a horizontal axis.
 10. The pneumatic on-demand seed deliverysystem of claim 9 wherein said auxiliary hopper includes a vent by whichseed entering said auxiliary hopper is regulated.
 11. The pneumaticon-demand seed delivery system of claim 9 further including an inletpipe through which seeds are pneumatically communicated to saidauxiliary hopper, said inlet pipe having a vent by which seed enteringsaid auxiliary hopper is regulated.
 12. A seeding machine, comprising: amain frame; a main seed hopper operably supported by said main frame forholding a supply of seed; a plurality of row units operably supported bysaid main frame, each row unit having an auxiliary hopper disposed tocommunicate the seeds into a seed meter through an opening in the seedmeter housing, said opening beginning rearward of a vertical axis of theseed meter and extending arcuately rearwardly toward a horizontal axisof the seed meter, each seed meter operably driven by a flexible shaft;a plurality of seed supply hoses and an air pump for pneumaticallyconveying the seed from the main seed hopper to said auxiliary hopper ofeach of said plurality of row units.
 13. The seeding machine of claim 12wherein said auxiliary hopper of each of said plurality of row unitsincludes a vent by which the seed entering each of said auxiliaryhoppers is regulated.
 14. The seeding machine of claim 12 furtherincluding an inlet pipe through which the seeds are pneumaticallycommunicated to said auxiliary hopper of each of said plurality of rowunits, said inlet pipe having a vent by which the seed entering each ofsaid auxiliary hoppers is regulated.
 15. The seeding machine of claim 12further comprising: an offset seed disk; a liner sized to be receivedwithin an interior back side of the seed meter housing, said linerhaving an opening mating with said opening in said auxiliary hopper;replacement brushes mountable to said liner, said replacement brushescooperating with said offset seed disk.